Drilling machine



April 2, 1946. c. H. PRIEST. JR 2,3

DRILLING MACHINE File d March 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY April 2, 1946- c. H. PRIEST, JR ,3

DRILLING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1941 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5 7 INVENTOYR 7 Chord 5/2/85),

BY M v MATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRILLING MACHINE Charles H. Priest, Jr., Pasadena, Calif.

Application March 24, 1941, Serial No. 384,838 (01. 77-4) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for performing a drilling operation, and particularly drilling through the heads of screws or bolts in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof.

Bolts or screws are used in a great many instances for fastening parts together. Where the structure so formed is subjected to violent vibrations, as in airplanes, for example, care must be taken to ensure against the loosening of the bolts. One of the ways in which such bolts may be locked against turning is to utilize a locking wire passing transversely through the heads of a number of such bolts. These heads must accordingly be drilled for the accommodation of the locking wire. This locking wire must be quite smal1 in diameter, so as to be readily accommodated without material weakening of the bolt.

The process of drilling the fine apertures through the heads accordingly presents a number of annoying problems. The bolt head, which is usually cylindrical, must be held tightly in a clamp and the drill must be guided well enough to prevent slipping of the drill point over the convex cylindrical surface as the drill approaches the head. While careful hand operations may be quite satisfactory to accomplish this work satisfactorily, the expense of such work is necessarily high. It is'accordingly one of the objects of this invention to make it possible toperform the drilling operation in a simple and rapid manner.

In order to effect these economies, provisions are made, in accordance with this invention, for facilitating the clamping of the screw or bolt in appropriate position for drilling. This clamping is performed by a mechanism requiring only superficial skill of the operator. Accordingly it is another object of this invention to provide a simple and effective holding means for the work, that may be quickly operated without the necessity of careful or skilled attention.

It is still another object of this invention to make it possible to release and elect the bolt or screw after the drilling operation, in a rapid and simple manner; and preferably by automatic means, responsive to the withdrawal of the drill from the head.

One manner in which this ejection may be effected is by the aid of compressed air, operating to exert a pressure in a direction corresponding to the axis of the bolt or screw. The admission of air to the space where the shank of the bolt is located is accomplished by the aid of a valve controlled so as to open when the drilling operation is completed.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and. has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, along plane 2-2 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along plane 33 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken respectively along planes 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, of the work support and its associated parts; j s

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, of a part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6; Q

Fig. 8 is a pictorial illustration of a modified form of guide block for the drill; and

Fig. 9 is a pictorial view of abolt with only part of its shank illustrated, and showing how the bolt head is drilled by the aid of the invention.

The bolt I (Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 9) upon which the drilling operation is to be performed is shown. in this instance as having a cylindrical head 2; This head is provided with a transverse slot 3 for the accommodation of a screw driver blade. By the aid of the present invention a transverse aperture or drill hole 4' is drilled diametrically across the bolt head 2 for the accommodation of a lockin wire. These locking' wires are usually of very small diameter such as that produced by a No. 57 drill or the like. Accordingly it is quite essential to provide a guide for the drill that is used for drilling the drill hole 4.

The manner in which the belt I' is supported during the drilling operation may b explained most clearly in connection with Figs. 2, 6 and 7. Thus a support 5 is provided which may be moved toward and away from a rotating drill 6 appropriately driven in a manner to be hereinafter explained. This support 5 at its right hand end is provided with a hollow tubular member 16 having a vertical axis. This member 16 is accommodated in a corresponding vertical bore in the support 5. This support is conveniently provided with a slot 1 extending from the bore in the support 5 to one edge of the support. The tubular member (6 may be held firmly in position by the aid of the clamping screw 8 passing across the slot I. In this way the tubular member 16 may be replaced with any one of a number of tubular members having the sam outside diameters but having different size apertures 9 for the accommodation of qdiflierent ize boltsf 'El hetzaperture 9 is made just large enough toaocommodate the shank of the bolt I.

The tubular member 16 is furthermore provide J ed with a head 10 forming an annular flange at its lower surface resting upon the top'surface Upon this head 4.!) rests-the of the support 5. 7 lower surface of the bolt head 2. Thefshank .of

bolt I may be inserted by hand into the passageway or bore 9. During the drilling operation the head 2 is held firmly clamped against the member?! -as by the aid of a blade-like member 11 which has a "taperedhlade portion adapted to of straps 26 fastened as by Welding or the like to the flange l9. 7

Before describing in detail the manner in which the support 5 is advanced and retracted with respect to the drill 6, a short description of the a dle housing 2 8, which may be appropriately fastened to the section 21. This drill spindle housing rotatably supports the drill spindle 30 carrying thechuck 29. The spindle 30 extends beyond the [fit i'snugly Within the slot Bof the head 2. "The V mannerin Whichlthis clamp ngblade 'H is' moved into clamping and releasing positions will be BX- plained' er nla t V v 1 Adjacent the ri h hand g e support #5 there is a guide block 'IZ :fastened as by the screw 14 to fllQiSllRpbKt 5. This guide "block is 1 provided with the'drill guiding aperture 13 for the accommodation of the 'dri'l'rfi. By this means, as the support 5' is advanced "toward-the right, the duh 5 first enters he uiding perture d then engages the head 2 inia directiontransverse to the axis of the bolt (shank. ''In order to make it"p ossib'le to provide guiding apertures of different sizes .fQ-r d fierent sizes dfdrii'1s,the block 12 ma be reversible 'inpositio n; and there dicated in blqck 2, anoth guiding aperture is which mayibebrough in't'opositi n upon approp iateadjiustmehtof the block 12.

for ery s all sc ws t s vdew sirable to "provide a "longer guiding aperture to uide the a mu h as possible a i t sl nine on he convex cy ilidli iialislllif ic Of h a "2. :l 'or 'suchs'm'all screws 'aLguid block 1 .6 illust ated i ig. 8 maybe *ut' d. n th s cas t d on the l'surlf. jthe gu de h 1.6 is a supplemental gu de memb r {17 Y p o 'v'vfith the uiding ap ture "L8 aliuin "With h 'guidingiaplerture the block "[6. This member H exfiehdssb hlos y to the cylindrical head of the screw r bolt .asito ensur aga nst slip g of the d ill point whe he nt fi n a es 'ihhbolthlead. a Motion of the upport Sin a d'irection'tran-siiersletoflthle axis Of the bolt .l toward and from th drill "5 i accomplish d in 'am n no t .id scribed. 'Ih'e support 15 has its lower surface "restin un hthe uppersu ifa e of the flange l9 offlan Hheam'ZD, Thelower flange-2| of thisH eam 'Iprmisia base ihr t e m s port of the entire apparatus "The upper horizontalflange i9 is cutaway was "to permit the "accommodation of other parts of the apparatus to be 'here- 'inja fte r described. The vertical .fla'nge '22 i s- 3, 4, 6 andr'l) is also 'cutawayfor the same purpose and provides 'a vertical surface '23 which is utilized in a manner to be hereinafter explai ed. j l V Ihe side of the support 15 "are guided between the de blo ks '24 and '25'1 astenecl in anyiapp opriate'mann r tothe op flan 119, Restrai t is p aced upon theilnovemeht pf 'theiisuppq fi away from "the flange I9 as 'by*the aid of a pair righthand end of the spindle housing 28 and may be provided a grooved pulley 3| (Figs. 1 and This grooved pulley 3| is shown as driven by a flexible circular belt 32 by the aid of a pulley 3.3 amounted on a countershaft 34. This countershaft 34 is supported in a bearing structure 35 "mounted on a standard '36. 'The icountersha ft 34 is adapted to be driven by the aid of a pulley "3'1 driven "by belt 38 from the "pulley 39,. This pulley 39 is shown as mounted on the shaft 410 of an electric motor 4 l.

in order to provide lubrication for the drill 6, an oil cup 42 (Fig. 2) is shown as appropriately supported on a standard "4 3. Leading downwardly from the oil cup is a small pipe -44 discharging a regulated small amount of lubricant upon the drill s. The standard #13 is shown as supported upon al'base member 45 having the angle iron "supporting fee'tAB. 'Disposedbetween this base member 415 and the lower flange 21 of the H beam'2fl is a spacer l8 adapted to catch the used lubricant. This pan may be appropriately drained in any convenient manner. I Y i 'Inorder'to stiffen the structure supporting "the 'spindle mechanism "28 of the "drill, use may "be made loflja pluralityiof struts #19 disposed :between the upper andlower flanges 21 and *2! of the H beam 28. Similar struts 4.9 'may beutilize'd at "the left han'dend of "the apparatusfor 'stifiening the" pper fiange t9, which'serves'toisupport and guide the bolt support 5.

";IIThe;movement ofthe support 5 towardan'd V from the 'drillj'fi is accomplished in'this instance the la'idbf a hand lever 51) (Figs. '1, f2 and '4') "Thisjha'n'd ieveryfiillis joined to the upper end of a shaft or roid 51', This shaft orrod .51 passes through the guide block 24 and is 'iournaled therein; The shafti5l has a 'downwardly extending portion "52 (Fig; :3 -and 4) having an enflargeid idiameten. This portion .52 is adapted to perform certain control functions hereinafter explained The shoulder formed between the tenlarged 'por'tion 5 2 and that portion j'of theLshaft 5! whichfpasses through the block 24 contacts the lower surfaceof this block 24. In this way the shaft 5| is :maint'a'inedjagainst 'axia'liinove- 'ment by'.the aid of the lower surface of the lever and the lower. surface of thejgui'de .24. The flange i9 is -appropri a'tely 'ap'ertured to permit :the passage of the extension 552 "downwardly The support '5 carries a vertical pin 53 which extends in a slot 54 formed in the'lever'fiil. "This pin -53 'mayjbe threaded into the top-of the supportf-S and may be provided with an enlarged "cylindrical portion fitting into the slotiin flever "j5ll. Ittmay "also be provided with a head 55 to "By movingthe lever "50 Fin a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig: 1, the-support 5 iscorrespondingly moved toward the drill 6. After the drill 6 passes entirely through the head 2, the lever 50 may be moved in the opposite direction for the removal of the drill'6. w

Prior to the drilling operation, the lever 50 is maintained in the retracted position of Fig. 1, The shank of bolt I is then dropped by hand into the passageway 9, with the slot 3 of the head transverse to the movement of the support 5. This positioning of the bolt I is accomplished by the operator. Slight misalinement of the slot 3 with respect to the clamping blade II is of no consequence, as the clamping blade II when it engages the slot 3 will automatically cause'the bolt head to conform to the clamping position.

The manner in which the clam-ping blade I I is operated will now be described. This blade II is provided with the arms 56 and 51 that embrace the support 5. A pivot pin 58 extends horizontally through the support 5 and the arms 56 and 51. These arms 56 and 51 furthermore extend below the bottom of the support 5 and are joined by a spacer bar 59 extending below the support 5. In the fully retracted position of the support 5 as illustrated in Fig. 2, this spacer bar 59 is urged into contact with the vertical edge 23 of the vertical web 22 of the H beam 20. This may be accomplished by the aid of a pair of tension springs 66. The right hand ends of these tension springs are anchored around the spacer bar 59. The left hand ends of these springs 66 are shown as anchored in the transverse anchor pin 6| (Figs. 2 and 3). This anchor pin 6| extends through the vertical flange 22.

Now as lever 50 is moved to bring the support 5 toward the drill 6 the pivot 58 of the clamping structure is moved toward the right, away from the dot-and-dash position of Fig. 6, and into the full-line position illustrated therein. Since there is a resilient restraint against movement of the lower spacer bar 59, motion of support 5 toward the right causes the clamping device to be rotated in a clockwise direction and into the clamping position of Fig. 6. After blade II fully engages slot 3, further advance of support 5 elongates springs 60, which thus exert an increased clamping force on the blade II.

Upon retraction of the lever 50 after the drilling operation is performed, the spacer bar 58 -is brought into engagement with the vertical surface 23 and further retraction of the support 5 causes the clamping blade II to move to the retracted position about the axis of the pin 58. Thus the operation of the clamping device is dependent upon the position of the support 5, as it moves toward and from the drill 6.

Arrangements are made to eject automatically the bolt I upon retraction of the lever 50 away from the drill 6. For this purpose use is made of air pressure exerted beneath the bolt I. Thus there is a pipe or conduit 62 (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6) which is threaded into the lower portion of the bore accommodating the guide 16. This pipe or conduit is connected through a flexible hose 63 to the outlet side of an air valve 64. The inlet side of the valve 64 is connected as by conduit 65 to any appropriate source of air pressure. The valve 64 is shown as supported upon the vertical flange 22 (Figs. 3 and 4) as by the aid of the nut 66 that is threaded over a threaded extension of the valve body. This valve 64 is so arranged that it is normally closed by a relatively stiff spring 88, but it may be opened by pressure upon the projecting valve stem 61. This stem 61 is adapted to be urged inwardly by the aid of the adjustable abutment screw 68 (Fig. 3) which is'carried by an arm 69. -This arm 69 is clamped to the lower portion of the shaft extension 52; Thusas the lever 56 is brought to the 5 retracted position'the abutment 68 will contact the stem 61 and will open the valve. The abutment is-so adjusted that the valve is opened after the support 5 has been retracted sufficiently to free the clamping blade II. Compressed air is'thus admitted beneath the belt I into the passageway 9. This compressed air violently ejects the bolt I upwardly. When this occurs the bolt I is urged into an arcuate guide Ill. This arcuate guide is in the form of a chute open at its inner side and having a wall that guides the ejected bolt in a circular manner so as to change the direction of the ejected bolt from the vertical to a downward direction. vThe sides of the chute are placed at opposite edges of the guiding wall. The guide finally delivers the boltinto a convenient receptacle 'II (Fig. 5). This arcuate guide I thus forms a vertical loop. It may be supported as by the aid of a bracket I2 fastened to the base 45. As soon as the ejectment is completed, the lever 50 is released and the spring urging the valve 64 to closed position pushes the stem 61 to the closed position and the supply of compressed air is terminated.

It'is also advisable to blow the chips formed during the drilling operation off the bolt For this purpose the outlet side of the valve 64 is provided with a supplemental small conduit 13 (Figs. 1 and 2). The open end of this conduit 13 is directed toward the head of the bolt I. Accordingly when the valve 64 opens the chips are blown off at the same time that the bolt I is ejected.

The manner of operation of the device is apparent from the foregoing. In the free position of Fig. 1, the valve 64 is closed and the support is retracted. The clamping blade II is released. The operator then drops a bolt into the passageway 9. Thereafter he urges the lever 50 in a direction to bring the support 5 toward the drill.

45 The first action that occurs is to bring the clamping device from the dot-and-dash position of Fig.

6 to the full line position of Fig. 6. Continued movement of the support 5 stretches the springs 60 and brings the support 5 further toward the 50 drill 6 which then performs the drilling operation. Upon retraction of the hand lever 50the clamping device II is rocked in a counterclock-.

wise direction, freeing the bolt I. Shortly thereafter the abutment 68 engages the stem 61 and the bolt I is ejected by air pressure into the chute or guide I0. Release of the lever 56 will then bring the apparatus to the beginning position of Fig. 1.

What is claimed is:

eration upon a slotted head bolt, means forming a passage 'for the shank of the bolt, means for engaging the slot in the head for clamping the head and restraining the bolt against rotation, and a linearly movable support for the passage forming means as well as for the slot engaging means.

2. In apparatus for performing a machine operation upon aslotted head bolt, means forming 70 a passage for the shank of the bolt, means movable toward and away from the head for engaging the slot in the head and thereby for holding the bolt against rotation in the passage, means for moving the passage forming means in a direction transverse to the axis of the bolt, and means 1. In apparatus for performing a machine opoperating .in response -:to movement of said 31 sage forming means :for ioperatingzthe :slot enag mgmeans. y j

3. In apparatus for performing a machine op,- eration upon a slotted head "bolt, means forming a passage for the shank ofJthe bolt, a movable member having a :blade for engaging the slot the head for holding said :boltagainst rotation, means for moving the passage iormi-ng means in a direction transverse tothe axis of the bolt, ;and:means operating in response to movement of said passage forming means ior operating said slot engaging blade.

4. In apparatus :for drilling an aperture through a bolt and transverse to the :axis of the bolt, asupport for thebolt, :meansfor releasably clamping the bolt in the support, means for moving the support toward and'irom a rotary drill and in a direction transverse to the axis of the bolt, means for, automatically releasing the clamping means upon movement of the support away from said drill,=and;means for'ejecting bolt and operated automatically upon further motion of the support.

5. In apparatus for drillinga-n aperture :transversely through a bolt, a support having :apassageway to accommodate the shank of the bolt, means for moving :the support toward and 'irom a rotary drill and in a direction transverse to the axis of the bolt, and :means for ejecting :said

bolt, comprising means operated upon movement of the support away from the drill for causing fluid pressure to be exerted in said passageway.

6. In apparatus for drilling anaperture transversely through .a bolt, said head zbeing slotted, a support having a passageway to accommodate the shank of the bolt, means for moving the sup- --of the bolt, means for moving said support, means including a normally closed valve for conducting-compressed .air to the passageway to eject the. bolt therefrom, means to openrsaid valve,

operated upon movement of said support tothat extremity of its travel remote, from the drill, said .r-neans being efiective to maintain the valve open as ;long as the support is substantially. at said extremity, and means resiliently urging 17116151113- portraway from said extremity. 1 p 7 .In apparatus for performing a machining operation on a bolt, a support arranged for .movement toward and away from a rotary drill and having a passageway to accommodate the shank of the bolt, a lever operatingabout .a ,pivot and connected with said :support, means including a normally closed valve forv conducting compressed .aairrto the passageway to eject the holttherefrom, .means to open said valve, operated by said lever :upon actuation of the lever to. move said sup- .port to that extremity of its travel remote'from the drill, .saidmeans being reflective to maintain the valve open as long as the support is substantially at "said extremity, and means resiliently urging the support away :from said extremity;

CHARLES H. PRIEST, JR. 

